Abrasive feeding mechanism for stone cutting machines



Allg. 8, 1933. 1 M Hl @WENS Er AL ABRASIVE FEEDING MECHANISM FOR STONECUTTING MACHINES g" f@ Caf/Mag@ Aug. 8, 1933,. M. H. OWENS Er AL1,921,697

ABRASIVE FEEDING MECHNISM FOR STONE CUTTING MACHINES y Filed Nov. 27,1931 sheets-sheet 2 Qwuemtoc Aug. 8, 1933. M, H OWENS ET AL 1,921,697

ABRASIVE FEEDING MECHANISM FOR STONE CUTTING MACHINES Filed Nov. 27,1951 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 gnue'ntoz llg- 8, 1933- M. H. owENs n AL 1,921,697

ABRASIVE FEEDING MECHANISM' FOR' STONE CUTTING MACHINES Filed Nov. 27,1931 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 tica/nui Aug. 8, 1933. M. H. OWENS Er AL 1,921,697

ABRASIVE FEEDING MECHANISM FOR STONE CUTTING MACHINES Filed NOV. 27,1951 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 M45/J A/ @wf/v6 A/a 576/6 l a@ @M Aug 8, 1933- M.H. owENs Er AL 1,921,697

ABRASIVE FEEDING MECHANISM FOlr STONE CUTTING MACHINES Filed Nov. 27,1931 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 gmc/Moc Patented AugieS', 1933 Y .il i} I.

f UNITED STATES PATENT- ,Omc

1,921,697 ABRAsIvE FEEDINGV rnicmuvsivr` FOR STONEC U'FrINdMACHINES`MackiH. Owens, lLakewood@and Earl A." Burr,

Shaker Heights, Ohio; assignors to the Cleveland Quarries Company,Cleveland, Ohio, a A Corporation of Ohio Application `November 27',`1931 Y K Y Serial N0.- 577,502

1s clams.- (c1. 12s-12) f This invention 4relates broadly to stone`sawv,F.ig..9 is an enlarged fragmentary view of partA ing or cuttingmachines and `more particularly `of anabrasive material distributingunit. to abrasive feeding mechanism for' vsuch ma- Referring first tothe general assembly shown chines. in Figs. 1 and.2 of Vthe drawings,the sawing"V v 5 The. primary object of the invention lis to apparatusiS helellllstated mre O rless dia-60 lgenerally improve and render moreefficient abglammatically, ii? beingunderstood that the imv rasivefeeders1 for stone saws or cutters, parti- YDIOVB...fllingvIlillfiIliSIIl maybe `used With v cularly those ofthe gang type.r Withthis object 'any Suitable type of machine. The frameofthe in view,Vmeans of a particularly advantageous SaWing'machine includes uprightybearljlS 01 C014 `4 character are providedfor efficientlydistributvumn's 5` which aresupported on a base '6` and 65 ing theabrasive material fed to the entire gang connected by crossvbeams`'1r,8,f 9 and 1 0. Pivotof saws Vand for selectively augmentingthe allysuspended from the'uprights bymeans of quantity thereof fed toeach saw, or kerf formed 'bearing brackets `A11, r'shafts `12,` arms 13and by the'saw to thereby, `among Vother advantages, bar^14 'are aplurality 01' gang OfSaWS Q1' 611i?-k f insure `efficient work of theYsaws and prevent ters l5, vwhich are shown partially through a 70.

retardation of theentire group orfgang of saws Astone S, the latterbeihgcarried byev truckfT by one or more lagging saws. The drivingmechadapted to `travel on rails R. The arms 13 are anism for the feeddevices is constructed' with' shown as vbeing-11einforced-bybraces13a`xe`d a View toward facilitating adjustment and acto theshaft' 1l2The, saw-supporting membersY curate control of the feed, and means areprojust specifiedconstitute a carriage for the saws 7:5

45 elevation of the mechanism shown in Fig. 3; ing knowledge ofthe-art,

vided for determining at a glance whether or 15, WhiCli iS 'adapted150D@` Oscillatd byfa'iy not the feeding mechanism is functioning withvSuitable .maI.1S,x thal7 here ShOWIl being n'll'ghe respectto'eachrespective saw.A .Y ffOrm ,O fa Crank ldmounte'd' on va vdriveshaft The means for conducting-the arasivema- AiLthe latterbeing'Supported by bearinsrd-Y terial to the saws or cutters are adjustableto Alslsl- Tlleflllk 16 COIlIleClled 6 0" the 80. accommodate differentheights of stone amil Saws lby meanso'f @Pitman 191arid`cr0ss Shaftwidths orcuts, and nhestructurelof the'feedig 20l WhiCh'iS Connectedytq,the ernisofy the saws. `mechanism is relatively simple in constructionThe "0T2-nk 15 .may .be driven from any Sullafble and isendowed Ywithfeatures which render ,it S-OUTCC'O Power not'ShQV/n l v i superior inefficiency over machines of this class AS the SaWS 15 ref oscluapef 111@Ontal With 85 -as'heretoforedevised l .,th? 'Stone they* aremtermlttntly loweredor The foregoing and other featuresnof noveltyprogressedasihey'performnl?? @zitting run'v and advantage inconstruction of the improved. non the means here shownbemg m .ther ,formfeeding mechanism Wm become apparent invew Vof `vertical -threadedshafts 21 which are Jourof the following descriptiontaken in conjunctionwith the drawings, wherein- "f 5the bearings 11 for `the saw beingkthreaded on Fig. 1 is a view insideveievauon of a jgang .said Shaft 21,".At'ther upperlends these. shafts are provlded wlth sprocketsandsprocket chains saw Vor cutter and co-operatlng feeding mechal v .y lY Y f 23 and 23a and driven in synchronlsm by means nlsm luutramye o?thefeatures.' of the Inl/elmo@ of `.bevel fgears 24k and 25 and 24a and25a, pul- 95 1' Fig. 2 is a View 1n end elevat1on, 1ys.2 6 nd 26-a md .dbelt 27 Whh may ex- Flg' 3 1s a p an Vlew of h? feedmg mechamsmf. tendtoany suitable ratchet mechanism and be and. 'driven'in synchronsm withthemain driveof Flg. 4 1s an enlarged view 1n section and end the maehme asWmibe understood by thesehew Flgf 5 1S an enlarged fragmentary dem VleWDuring the oscillation of the saws intcontact 1n plan of parts 0fthendrlvemehamsm and wimthe'stone sithey aresupplied with cutting`control therefor; and' l abrasive, generally in vthel vform of amixture'of Fig- 6 1S a vleW taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5; steel grit,Sand, water and/or other abrasives.

` Fig. 7 iS fragmentary ViW inV IOI'IG leva- The 'means for "supplyingthisabrasive material 105 4 55 cators, and

ltion ofv a vnumber of conductor boxes in d i'sembody the principalfeatures of the presentinf sembled condition; j vention and will now bedescribed.`

Fig. 8 to`8e, inclusive, are detail views in sec- Supported on theYcross shafts V8 vare hopper's tional elevation of various forms of feedindi 28 and 29, the hopper 28` kbeingthernain feed f r hopper, while thehoppers 29- constitute auxil-llO `naled in bearings 22 supported by theuprights 90 Avat ravity into conductor pipes or tubes 33. Apermitadjusta'bility of these conductor pipes in iary feed hoppers. These:hoppers are provided with bottom walls Which form receptacles 28a. and29a for the material passing by gravity from Vthe lbottom outlets ofsaid hoppers; The hoppers are supplied with suitableabrasive material,

such as chilled shot and/or sand or the like. Extending adjacent theoutlet of the main feed hopper 28 and journaled at opposite ends inbearings 30a supported on a suitable frame structure is a shaft 38,' andon this shafta plurality of impeller or feed Wheels 31 are secured,

each of which. is formed with a series of `feed` ing teeth or buckets31a,V note Fig. 4. TheseL feed Wheels pick upthe material passing fromthe hopper 28 into the bottom receptacle 28a Yand deliver a suitablequantity thereof to conductork boxes 32, there preferably '.beingone ofthese boxes for each saw, or kerf formed by the saw. Due to thetoothtype of feed,1 the rnate-r rial is delivered in an even manner.From the conductor boxes the abrasive material fallsjby To accordancewith the spacing of, the saw kerfs they areoprovided with flexible oruniversay joint iconnections 34, thus permitting said pipes to bevkturnedto various positions with respect tothe stone, note particularlyFigs. 2 and 4, and to I permit adjustability 'as to height, said tubesare such as the set rscrcvvsfib.

telescoped, as'atffia, Vand provided with means for l, maintaininggtheproper adjusted position A feature of the present invention resides in Ijan auxiliary abrasive' material supply feed in conjunctonjwithgthemain'feedr hopper 28. This auxiliary feed consists of a plurality of thehoppersi 2,9, above specified, which have extending vtherethrough avshaft 35, the latter being jourjnaled at oppositeY extremities invbearings 36. Therho'ppers 29 are adjustable longitudinally of ltheshaftr35, and mounted Von said'shaft and ,adapted to rotate in thereceptacle 29a. of. each hopper'. are4 feeding Wheelsh37., l(providedwith The hoppers 29 are ladjustably ,adapted to clamp against one of thechannels 38. It Will be seen that by loosening the screw 40, any on'evof the desiredv hoppers 29 together fvvyith its feed Wheel 37 may beadjusted along theroW of conductor boxes 32'to augment the supply ofabrasivematerial fed to said boxes. Each vconductorbox is provided witha cover 42 ',vvhicl is lpivoted at the'apex of said box and d ,may bethrown to either side 'of the latter as de-y sired. "In the positionshown in Fig. 4, the cover is'ninva substantially vertical position and'pere mits'feed of abrasive from both main and aux- L,iliary hoppers atthe same time.'` When slid intoflosed position on either. side ofthecon- .,ductor it prevents abrasive from feeding on the closed side.

remain closed.

Thus both sides may remain open orleither side may be open andthe'opposite side he conductor box assembly is supported on .al cross j.bracket 43, in'turn supported. on `the '.,structural members 8. Theseboxes are shown in enlarged detail in Fig 7. The boxes-on each end Vofthe row are formed with lugs 44 while the inl `Awithout affecting thepart of shaft 'T35 extending will be noted in Fig. 3.

,shown.,Y Extending vertically With-respect to termediater boxes areformed with complimentary segmental flugs 45. vThe boxes are bolteddirectly tojan angle bracket 46, see. Fig. 4, byl means of bolts 47. lInassembling, the intermea diate boxes are positioned side by 'side andthen 80 clamped together and secured to the bracket 46 by bolts andclamp Washers, or the like,while the end boxes are secured againstdisplacement by being bolted to the angle bracket 46. This constructionfacilitates casting and assemblage ofthe boxes andensures retention inan assembledV position With a minimum number of parts.

The means for driving the feedrvvheels 31 and 37, `is particulariyconstructed with a view to- VWords permitting anaccurate predeterminedfeed atv all times. Both sets of feed Wheels are driven and controlledin substantially the same manner as rparticularly shown in Figs 3, 5.and 6. The shaft 36 in the main feed hopper 28 isV provided at one endwith a lgear 48 adapted to be driven from a gear 49 secured on a shaft50 journaledrin bearings l'xed to a cross support 52. The outer end ofthe shaft 59vhas` securedl thereon a friction disc member 53, 'notepar-"10 ticularlyV Fig. 5, and the shaft 56a for the auxiliary feed hassecured thereon a friction Vdisc member 53a. The drive is appliedtothese friction membersby means of across shaft f54'vvhichA isjournaled in bearings 55uand has mounted.105

thereon, in` splined slidingV engagement therewith, friction members 56andA 56a`ada'ptedto contact with the discs 53 and, 53mand rotate thelatter. To enable the speed to be readilyl varied, the `friction members56 areA shiftagble'l-10 longitudinally on the ishaftr54, each memberbeing provided With a grooved collar 57 in which a clutch forkl58engages, the clutchforl; being secured to a rack 59 slidably mounted. inla guide bracket 60,'Which maybe carried byanyd'15 convenient stationarySlllDIlorting'V member. The shafts 5i) and 50a, together with the*discs* 53 rvand 53a thereon arefderpressible longitudinally,

each shaft being provided vvithl a spring 61, bearing collar 62 andadjusting and supporting co1- lar 63. rIhe shaft is preferablyprovidedwith agear Whichengages a long'faced gear--on the end of shaft ato permit this depressing action through the hoppers 29. The rack59 `isprovided With ya cam projection y65, `adapted to contact with a cammember rcryoke (i6-Which is formed With-a boss or pin 66a extendingvinto the shaft 50.?

The foregoingspeed varying assembly is duplicated for both the main andauxiliary Vfeeds,as

`above specified,` so that the detailed showing in Figs. 5 and 6 isillustrative of both devicesas Each drive is separatelyIk controlled.'The`shaftf54 has securedvon theend thereof a bevelgear 67 adopted tomesh with a gear secured on ashaft 68 which has secured thereonadrive-pulley provided with a ,belt 70 kextending to a suitable source ofpowerfnotl the maehinervare shafts '7l and 71a, noteparticularly Fig. l,which are provided ontheir f upper ends with pinions 7,2 adaptedtoengage 'the racks'59, the lower ends of said shafts 71 andA 71a145being provided with indicating `segments 73, which are calibrated asclearly shown in'lig. 5. Handles '74 and 74a are secured on the lowerend ofthe shafts 7l and 71a. By turning these handles vin the properdirection, the racks 59,15@

are caused to move by engagement with the pinions 72 and move thefriction `drivemembers 56'and'56a` oraway from the centers :of the-YAfriction discs `53` and 53a, the speed being inp-y creased vordecreased accordingly as the friction wheels 56 and 56a are movedawayfrom or to-` Al65 engages with the yoke 66 and yd`epressesi -thefriction disc A53 or 53a. out'of contact with the friction wheels 56and56a, depending, lof course,

'Y on which control `lever is being operated.v w f 1 vso evenly over thesides'thereof as it flows toward As `the material passes from the'conductor tubes 33 it dropsV by gravityfintoaplurality of trough shapedfunnels 75, which are provided Ths material augments vthe supply ofmixed sand, shot and water distributed from reservoirs 76, which aresupported at intermediate points I with respect to the saws and at asuitable distance above the latter. Each reservoir is provided with aplurality of openings, preferably 3 in number as indicated at 77 and 77a(Fig. 2), and the openings 77 being formed at an inter- Aings 77a areformed at opposite ends thereof.

or sprinkler generally indicated at 78l and` particularlyshown in topplan in Fig. 9. The baiiler 78 as shown is a roof-like structure which'may be made of boards, sheet metal or the like,` and vgradually slopesfrom the center of themachine toward each side thereof. Spaced.adjustable baffles 'or guides 78a are pivotally mounted on top of themain baille -or` sprinkler 78 by -means of Vpins 79, soythat they may beadjusted'to varying angular positions as shown' in dotted lines on fcertain distance apart andithen gradually close Vuntil they meet at theouter end of themain baiileA or sprinkler. Thus as the fluid-like `massfalls on the main `baille 78, it is spread andfalls the outer ends ofthe sprinklen'the last set of guides 78a stopping the outward flow ofthe flnalremainingA material and directing it" over the sides ofthe saidsprinkler, or main baille 78. As the material falls fromsides of thebafes 78, it strikes auxiliary distributing baffles 80 which are alsoadjustabln-.`

adjustment, these auxiliary baffles 80 `are pivote` To provide for thisally mounted or hinged as at 81 and engaged .at

their outer'edge byracks 82 carried by a VVcrossVv head 83. Theseauxiliary distributing bailes 80,

as shown, Vare in the form of a `plurality `of spaced cleats, thematerial falling onto the cleats Vand passing through the spacestherebetween;

By adjusting the incline of these auxiliary rclis- `txibutors 80, a veryefficient distribution of the material may be obtained. I Y

Means are provided for indicating at a glance whether or not a propersupply of abrasive ma- `Y terial is passing through each conductor pipe33, this means being shown in various forms `in Figs. 8 to 8e,inclusive.` Referring' firsti'to Fig.

i vided with blades of the shape showny'orV said blades may be given anydesiredgshape. `As the material falls'through the 4conductor pipes itpipe; openings, it falls onto a main-distributing baffle from the hopper29.

strikes theblades of theindicatorl wheel` 84 andA revolves the latter.A'meter may -be afiixed 'on speed of revolution of the wheel.

sists of a pivoted member 87 having anindi-v` Y eating `disc 88 ontherone`` end thereof adapted to restagainst the L housing in itsextreme lowered position. Whenr the sand `falling throughthe conductorpipe 33 strikes the member 88 it raises and lowers the disc88 inaccordance with the quantity of sand falling-therethrough., Theindicator is mountedfon a `shaft l l 4or pin 86 as in the Vforms shownin Figs. S8 for each kerf formed by the respective4 saws.

`In this instance the device is in the form of 'a fiat plate or disc 89which lis pivoted or hinged-V ly mounted'on a pin 86a secured to thelower f' 'end of fthe pipe'33. The Weightofl the disc-.89

is such' as to normally maintainV it? in an inclined position over thepipe 33. .The material falling through the pipe 33 strikes the Vface ofthe `disc 89 andoscillates the latter'accordingv to the quantity ofmaterial ,falling through-said In Fig. 8e the conductor vpipe is cutaway at its lower end as shownto give aivisual indication of the flow ofmaterial.

Fromthe foregoing the operation of the mech- 1 anism will'be readilyunderstood."` Briefly summarizeivthe` stones S are loaded' onto trucks Tandmoved up'intov cutting positiongwithrespect to the gang saws '15.Thelattergaretlfien oscillated .and intermittently lloweredby the hrioteris supplied tothe saws.

The'supply of mixed abrasive material and, Water is carried aroundinacontinuous cycle Aand is continually beingreplenishedwith dry materialfrom the hopper 28 and, Vwhen required,

Below "the machine is a sump 90Y and conduit 90a, the latter'leadinginto a well `91 provided. with an overfiow conduit 92A -for carrying offpowdered stone floating on the Water. A supplyl pipe 92l and ahopperf94'are' provided for 4addingwater andsand When'required A pump 95` forcesthe material back up to"thereservoir'76 through a pipe oriconduit 96.

TheV abrasive material an'd 'water/from .the c reservoirs '76.V fallsonto Aand Ithrough thel dis-v tributing apparatus` heretoforedescribedandA then onto the stone arid into the kerfs formed` 'by thesaws, while Vthe dry freshreplenishing supply of chilled shot, sand or`like material `is taken from the hopper 28 bythe feed'wheels `s31`. andfalls int'oqthe c onduct'or'boxes 32 Vand passes down through the tubes33 intotheguide .funnels 75.V Shouldany particular sawor saws requireadditional abrasive vrnaterial, it is lonly necessary to adjust theauxiliary hoppers 29 Yto the desiredl point with respect to the proper conductor box or boxes andv throw-the control han# l dle 74ato runningposition, the quantity being easily controlled by` adjustingthe speed/ofthe Wheels 37. lThus, any vsaw orsaws which may be laggingduetoinsufficient abrasive material canbebrougntup tothe desiredcutting'sspeed.

The main feed from the hopper 28may'be.

readily adjusted by turning the handle 74Jand varying the speed of thefriction disc 53. vDue tothe relatively large number of teeth 32 on the'J wheel 31, the supply :of material from the' `main hopper 28 toeach`=conductor box r`32; is-substan- ..;tia`l1y.,.constant. andinproportion to theispeed perja support for said auxiliary hopper, and

.Iofthefdrive Any number 'of auxiliary feed assemblies or i hoppers129may foe provided, and

" `other obvious modioationsadoptedwithin .the

scopef of Y the invention as defined `by the appended claims. Y

. What we .claiml is: f i Y 1.1Mechanismforfeeding abrasive material tostone cutting saws Ycomprising a main feedhopper,'.a` plurality of feedwheels in said. hopper,

, auxiliary feedhoppers -adjustably mounted; with respect tosaid-.conductor `boxes for selectively augmenting thesupply vof materialdelivered' thereto.

'3. Abrasive feeding mechanism for stone saws comprising'a hopper, aplurality of impeller Wheels rotatably mountedin saidhopper, in-ldividual conductor boxes for each impeller Wheelp'one'or more auxiliaryfeed hoppen,I also 'provided with impeller Wheelamounted to cooperatewith saidmain hopper,means for driving saidim eller wheels, and meansfori-adjusting thedrive of said wheels to vary the quan-V f tity ofmaterialdelivered `from'said hoppers to f said conductor boxes.

4. A mechanism` for feeding abrasive material to stone saws, comprisinga main .feed hopper,l a VI'Jluiality Vof.impeller wheels rotatablyfmounted'insaid'hopper, one or more auxiliary feed hoppers 'alsoprovided With'impeller wheels .mounted to` co-operate with said mainhopper, Ymeans for driving the impellerywheels of both hoppers, andindependent means for adjusting the'drive of said Amain and auxiliarywheels.

5..A mechanism for'feeding abrasivemate- `rial to stone saws, comprisinga main feed hopyper and one. or moreauxiiiary feed hoppers mounted toco-operate with said main feed hopper, Vimpeller wheels rotatablyvmounted in ysaid-main and'auxiliary hoppers, independently operatingcoacting friction members for driv ing the impeller wheels in said mainand aux per having a plurality of Vabrasive outlets, anr

auxiliary hopper adjustably mounted for. movement longitudinally of saidmain hopper and adapted to. co-operatewith said main feed `hopperwherebythe supply ofi abrasive material from any one of the main feed hopperoutlets may bev augmented, conductor boxes arranged Vto receive thematerial from said hoppers, and

conductor tubesv connected to said conductorboxes, vsaid conductorVtubes being provided `with .flexible connections to permit adjustmentthereof. Y

7; In la stone cutting machine, mechanism for feeding fabrasivematerial, comprising a main feed hopper, means for discharging abraslsive fromY said main -feed hopper to a plurality of points ofapplication,V 1an auxiliary -feedfhoppermounted to yco-operatewith-saidmain hopmeans for adjustably ysecuring said vauxiliary hopper to, saidsupport wherebyl said auxiliary.

hopper may be lselectively positioned toincrease the quantityof abrasivefedto anyone of said points of application.

8. In a stone cutting machine, va main f id hopper provided with abottom Wall formingalr.

receptacle for abrasive material, one or more j auxiliaryfeedhoppersalso provided with bottom Walls forming a receptacle forkabrasivefmaterial and adjustably Vmounted with respect to; said mainhopper, individual conductor boxes adapted to receive the material fromsaidlreceptacles,`

a plurality of -toothed wheels for delivering thev material from saidreceptacles to said .conductor boxesV and'means for independentlyconfeeding abrasive material. to a plurality-of saws,

. comprising, amain feed hopper for abrasive Inaterial, a plurality ofmain feed wheels adapted to discharge abrasive material from said lmainr`feed hopper, a plurality of conductor .boxes adapted toreceive materialdischarged from` said main hopper by said main Yfeed wheelsfaniauxiliaryfeed hopper y adjustably Ysupported Vwith los respect `to'saidmainhopper, an auxiliary feed i wheel kin said auxiliaryhopper,l saidauxiliary hopper Vand feed wheel being adapted to be se-` vlectivelypositionedto discharge` abrasive mate rial into any one of saidconductor boxes.'

l0. Inapparatus of the class described, aplurality of stone saws,conductor tubes adaptedV to deliver abrasive material toY said stonesaws, conductor boxes `disposed at the inlet ends'of said conductortubes` and means fork delivering abrasive material tosaidrconduc'torboxes including a-v main feed hoppena shaft extending longitudinallyofsaid hopper, a plurality of feed wheels-mounted on. said shaftV andadapted to dischargey abrasive material fromsaid hopperl 'intosaidconductor boxes and an auxiliary hopper and feed Wheel adjustablymounted with respect to--said conductorboxes whereby rthe supplyofabrasive delivered to anyofj saidv conductorboxes by the mainlfeed wheelmay be augmented by-abrasive material feedvv from the auxiliary hopperbythe auxiliary feed Wheel.V

11.. In apparatus/of ithe Yclass describedaplurality-of abrasivematerial conductors disposed transversely-across and-above the `work bed'of a stone saw, means forY supplying abrasive 4material to saidconductors comprising a main Yfeed qhopper, a plurality ofmain feed.wheels radapted `to deliver `abrasive maerial from said "fmain' vhopperto said conductors, and an auxiliary feed hopperand feed wheel mountedfor 'movement :relative to saidconductors whereby. said auxiliaryrhopper and feed` Wheel'may be positioned to supply abrasive materialftoany one of said conductors. Y

- 12. Invapparatus of the class described, a plurality Aof abrasivematerial conductors disposed transversely across and above' the work bedof a stone saw, meansfor supplying abrasive material to saidconductorscomprifsing a main feed hopper, av plurality of main feedWheels adapted per and feed Wheel may be positioned to supply abrasivematerial to any one of said con--` ductors, means for driving said feedwheels and independently adjustable means for varying the speed ofrotation of said main feed wheels and said auxiliary feed wheel.

13. In a stone cutting machine having a plurality of cutting saws,mechanism for feeding abrasive material to said saws, including abrasivematerial distributing means adapted to feed `substantially equal amountsof abrasive material vided with a plurality of independent feeding.

devices for distributing substantially equal quantities of abrasivematerial to each of said blades,`

and an auxiliary feed hopper adjustably supported whereby it may beselectively moved into position to augment the supply of abrasive feedto any one of said blades.

15. In a stone cutting machine, a gang saw` Ais having a plurality `ofblades, means'for impart y ing sawing movement to` said gang saw, and,`f

means for feeding abrasive to saidblades, said 1 feeding means includinga main feed hopper prov` vided with a plurality of independent feedingdevices for distributing substantially equal quand-Hr i tities ofabrasive material to each of said blades; y an auxiliary feed .hopperadjustably supported whereby it may b e selectively moved into positionto augment the supply of abrasive feed to f any one of said blades, andmeans for independfed from said main and -auxiliary hopp'ers..

ently controlling the rate at which abrasive is 16. In a stone cuttingmachinehaving a lplu`- rality ofl cutting saws, mechanism for feedingabrasive material to said sawsincluding abrasive material Ydistributingmeans adapted to feed substantially equal amounts of abrasive `ma-vterial to each of saidcutting saws, auxiliary ,A vabrasive materialfeeding means adapted to be selectively positioned kto augment thesupply of abrasive material to one'of said cutting saws,

and means for independently controlling the rate of feed from said mainand auxiliary abrasive feeding means.

" `EARL A. BURR.

MACKl H. OWENS.

